When mixing up a batch of this dry rub, use the paprika of your choice. There are so many to pick from. Sweet Paprika, Smokey Paprika, Spicy Paprika, Chipotle Paprika, I could go on and on but I think you get the idea. This recipe is just a starting place. If you have a picky family, this is a good basic and mild rub to test out on them. It gives the steak a delicious sweet and savory flavor.

This is the recipe I was cooking up when the rattlesnakes came a calling. Scrambled Hen Fruitcalled this recipe "Snake Bait" Dry Rub when she left a comment on Tuesday's post. Maybe I should change the name, "Snake Bait" Dry Rub, it has a good ring to it.

I will be drawing a name from my followers to win a copy of my cookbook, MY KIND OF COOKING, next Friday, August 6th. If your name is drawn and you have a blog, I will mention your blog address on my "Fast Food Friday's" radio show on the The Passion Radio Network, and then post your blog address on my blog.Sign up as a FOLLOWER for your chance to win!

Another great giveaway can be found at my blogging buddy, Bo's Blog (say that three times fast), Bo's Bowl. Not only does he have great giveaways, his recipes are incredible! One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Speaking of giveaways, I won one! Thank you Katrina ofwww.bakingandboys.com I am looking forward to trying the new Dentyne Pure Gum. I just love to try new thing!

Also, stop by and visit my friend Chaya's blog My Sweet and Savory, she has an incredible blog that I think you would enjoy!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

A while back I wrote a post called Warning: Blogging can be dangerous! In that post I talked about how I sometimes get distracted by my blog when I am cooking. Apparently I have not learned my own lesson.

A couple of days ago I was cooking up my Grilled Dry Rub Steaks recipe on the grill that is located on the back deck of our house. I had the sliding glass door open with the radio station where I have my show playing softly in the background. I had my camera in hand and was trying to get a good picture of the steaks so I could use it on my blog.

I heard a strange noise, but I was so focused on taking pictures, I decided I would take a look after I had the pictures I wanted. It was only after I noticed out of the corner of my eye, that our dog, Buddy, was backing slowly up towards the open door, that I finally took a look to find out what that strange noise was.

It was a rattlesnake! Only 4 feet away from me, at the edge of the deck, coiled up, tail rattling, head up in the air, hissing at me. I don't think I have ever been that scared before. I slowly backed up into the house.

My husband arrived at home just a couple of minutes after I had barricaded myself and Buddy inside. My fearless hero grabbed a shovel and went to kill the snake. After a few attempts to kill the snake, the deed was done.

We ate our slightly charred, but delicious steaks, then my husband went outside to bury the snake. At this point I should have know there was something wrong. Our dog would not go outside. As my husband stepped outside on the deck he heard a rattle. There in the same place was another rattlesnake. A few whacks latter and that snake was history too.

I have learned my lesson again, about the dangers of being distracted by your blog. At least I hope I have!

Oh, by the way, does anyone have a recipe for BBQ rattlesnake?

Check back on Friday, when I post my recipe for the delicious
Grilled Dry Rub Steaks.

I will be drawing a name from my followers to win a copy of my cookbook, MY KIND OF COOKING, on August 6th. If your name is drawn and you have a blog, I will mention your blog address on my "Fast Food Friday's" radio show on the The Passion Radio Network, and then post your blog address on my blog.

This is one of my go to recipes when I know I am going to only have a short amount of time to cook. And this week is one of those weeks! I have been helping our Passion Play Ministries International team going to India, prepare for the trip. I was going to be a part of this trip, but the dates got pushed back, and if I went I would miss my son's birthday. I love to travel, but I love my son, Tyler, more.

I will be drawing a name from my followers to win a copy of my cookbook, MY KIND OF COOKING, on August 6th. If your name is drawn and you have a blog, I will mention your blog address on my "Fast Food Friday's" radio show on the The PCL Radio Network, and then post your blog address on my blog.

Sign up as a FOLLOWER for your chance to win!

The first Friday of each month, I hold a drawing for a FREE copy of my cookbook, MY KIND OF COOKING. This cookbook has over 500 yummy recipes using only 3, 4, or 5 ingredients. It has everything from appetizers to desserts and everything in between. It also includes slow-cooker recipes!

For your chance to win, all you have to do is sign up as a follower. To find the Follow button, scroll down the blog and look on the right side.

If you are looking for more giveaways to enter, check out my friend's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner. She is giving away a book called "Street Food Chicago" by chef Mike Baruch.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Do you scrub your grill clean with soap and water after or before you grill out? According to research, you don't have to clean it up with lots of soap and water. If you scrub the grill with a wire brush and then heat the grill to a high temperature, you will kill all the bacteria that is lingering there.

My husband has been saying that for years, but don't tell him he was right. It will be our little secret.

In medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Salt to taste. Whisk until well blended.

Recipes can be found on page 65 in MY KIND OF COOKING COOKBOOK

Don't let the amount of sugar in the dressing scare you away. This is the only salad I have ever seen where men go back for seconds. Hands down, it if my favorite salad and dressing.

My friend Mary gave me this recipe. Mary has two specialties, salads and cookies. She justifies her cookie habit by eating a lot of salads. That's what we like to call girl logic. I eat salad, therefore I can eat several cookies. It makes sense to me!

Whenever Mary brings a salad to church, it barely makes it out of the kitchen. The kitchen help dish themselves up secret plates of Mary's salad. By the time the rest of the congregation gets to Mary's salad, there is very little left. I have noticed that the number of ladies offering to help in the kitchen increases when Mary brings a new salad recipe.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

"Aunt Sharon, how much water do you use to fry French Fries?"my cousin asked my Mom as she was trying to prepare a meal. I was much younger than my cousin, but even I knew you used oil not water to fry things.

We take it for grated that everyone should know the basics when it comes to cooking. I think fear of looking like a fool for not knowing cooking terms, ingredients, and cooking techniques are a few of the reasons some people don't cook.

Over the weekend, I received an email from a new cook asking what some of the cooking terms in my cookbook were. There is no such thing as a silly question. We all have to start somewhere.

Today, my cousin is a fabulous cook, but it all began with an honest question and a genuine desire to learn.

Below, I've made a list of common cooking terms that might be helpful to some who are just getting started in the kitchen.

Cooking Techniques

Sear: To brown quickly over high heat.

Saute': To fry lightly and quickly in a little hot oil or butter while being frequently turned over.

Roast: A dry heat method of cooking meat, poultry, and vegetables in an oven.

Bake: A dry heat method of baking bread, pies, or cake in the oven.

Steam: To cook food over boiling water in a covered pan.

Fry: Pan frying is done in a small amount of oil. Deep frying is the technique of immersing the food you are cooking in hot oil.

Boil: To cook in liquid that is bubbling.

Poach: To gently cook in not quite simmering water or seasoned liquid.

This week at the radio station where I have my show, we are doing an on air fundraiser for Passion Play Ministries International. The station is full of volunteers. When I see a room full of people, I see guinea pigs, I mean taste testers. Today I am testing my Italian Pinwheels on them.

I came up with this recipe when a friend of mine purchased some frozen appetizers that had sun-dried tomatoes in them. It got me thinking of ways I could use sun-dried tomatoes in quick and easy recipes. Italian Pinwheels is one of the recipes I came up with.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

I like to use sun-dried tomatoes that are packed in oil. They are soft and chewy with a delicious sweet flavor. I save the oil that the tomatoes are packed in and use it in other dishes. I like to use the oil in my Italian salad dressing recipe to give it extra flavor, and I use it to saute' vegetables for my spaghetti sauce.

Some interesting facts about sun-dried tomatoes:

1.Tomatoes are 93% water. It takes 7 to 10 days to dry the tomatoes in the sun.

2. Sun-dried tomatoes were first dried on tile roofs in Italy. By drying them they were able to preserve them for use in the winter.

3. It takes 20 pounds of fresh tomatoes to make 1 pound of sun-dried tomatoes.

4. It takes 3 1/2 pounds of fresh tomatoes to make one 8.5 ounce jar of sun-dried tomatoes.

5. Sun-dried tomatoes are high in vitamin A and C and are a good source for potassium and fiber.

On Friday I will be posting my Italian Pinwheel recipe. The recipe contains sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil.

Don't forget to visit Bo's Bowlfor your chance to win a $40.00 gift certificate from CSN Stores. The contest ends at midnight on July 9th.

Hamburgers and hot dogs were traditional Independence Day fare when I was a kid. I read recently that over 150 million hot dogs will be cooked on the 4th of July. That is a lot of hot dogs! I like tradition. I like the memories a family tradition creates. This year I am shaking up the family tradition a little by grilling up a batch of these burgers for the 4th of July. My mother approves, so it is okay. The taco seasoning is not overpowering in this recipe, but adds an unexpected flavor that is sure to please the crowd gathered around the grill.

Have a Happy 4th of July!

Today on my radio segment called Fast Food Friday on the PCL Radio Network, I had the privilege of interviewing Pam of Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner.Pam was the winner of MY KIND OF COOKING COOKBOOK for the month of June.It was so much FUN! Pam mailed us two delicious recipes to taste while we did the interview. She made a delicious Hawaiian Pineapple Bread and Chocolate Chunk Butterscotch Blondies.Everyone loved them and you will too!Pam has posted the recipes on her blog.

On today's show we also did the drawing for a free copy of my cookbook .

Sign up as a FOLLOWER for your chance to win!

The first Friday of each month, I hold a drawing for a FREE copy of my cookbook, MY KIND OF COOKING. This cookbook has over 500 yummy recipes using only 3, 4, or 5 ingredients. It has everything from appetizers to desserts and everything in between. It also includes slow-cooker recipes!

If you are looking for other giveaways, check out one of my favorite blogs, Bo's Bowl. He is giving away a $40.00 gift certificate to CSN Stores.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Pam from Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner will be live on my radio segment called Fast Food Fridays on the PCL Radio Network. She won my cookbook in June. You can listen over the internet by clicking this link: Passion Radio. Click on the Listen Live button in the upper left hand corner of the website to connect. We will be on around 8:20 a.m. mountain time.

Also on Friday, during my radio segment, I will be drawing a name from my followers to win a copy of my cookbook called MY KIND OF COOKING. If your name is drawn and you have a blog, I will mention your blog address on the radio and then post your blog address on my blog.

Sign up as a FOLLOWER for your chance to win!

The first Friday of each month, I hold a drawing for a FREE copy of my cookbook, MY KIND OF COOKING. This cookbook has over 500 yummy recipes using only 3, 4, or 5 ingredients. It has everything from appetizers to desserts and everything in between. It also includes slow-cooker recipes!

For your chance to win, all you have to do is sign up as a follower. To find the Follow button, scroll down the blog and look on the right side.